Variable-speed gearing.



G. J. THOMAS.

VARIABLE SPEED BEARING.

V APPLIQATION r1120 mmzz. 1911. 1,234,966.

W. s w n m m m w m N 0 M 4 r mm M m 4 H ti \w m e M 2 //fi/// -fA/////////////// m n a h u a l: M\ \Q MA I I 3 \N m- |l|| I l IJ'III. I k m 1 k I K v WITNESSES G. J. THOMAS.

VARIABLE SPEED GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED MAI i. 27. 1917- Patented July 31, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES.-

A TTORNE YS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. GEORGE-J. THOMAS, or nANsING, MICHIGAN, AssIGNoR TOZDUPLEX TRUCK COMPANY,

or LANSING, MICHIGA VARIABLE-SPEED GEABING To all whom it may cancer 1t:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. THOMAS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Lansing, county of Ingham, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable-Speed Gearing,

from the detailed description to follow.

- I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and'means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my'invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a detail longitudinal section of my improved transmission taken on a line corresponding to line 1-1 of Figs. II and III, the shafts being shown in full lines, the supports or hanger attaching lugs for the gear box or casingbeing omitted; the' operating means for the clutches and the springs in the casing to accommodate the Same are also omitted.

'Fig. II is a transverse section on a line corresponding to line 22 of Fig. I.

Fig. III is a transverse section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a detail longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 44 of Fig. III.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the casing or gear box, designated generally by the numeral 1, preferably comprises a barrel-like body portion 2 with detachable heads 3 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Application filed March 27, 1917. Serial No. 157,722.

4, At one side the body portion 2 is provided wlth a lobe-like extension 5, the purpose of which will appear later. The casing illustrated is provided with a removable cover 6.

The casing'head is provided with a bearing, designated generally by the numeral 7, for the outer end of the driving shaft 8. A bearing, designated generally by'the numeral 9, is provided within the casing for the inner end of the driving shaft. A jack or intermediate shaft 10 is disposed parallel with the driving shaft, the heads 3 and 4 being provided to support the ends ofthe jack shaft. A bearing 11 supports the point.

The driven shaft 12 is arranged in alinement with the driving shaft. The driving shaft is provided with a bearing 13 for the inner end of the driven shaft, the outer end jack shaft at an intermediate of the driven shaft being supported by 21,75

bearing 7 on the casing head 4.

The projecting end of the driving shaft 8 is adapted to be connected to the engine shaft or other source of power. A air of driving gears 14 and 15 is fixed with the driving shaft. These gears are disposed one at each side of the bearing 9 and are of different sizes. A pair of driven gears 16 and 17 is rotatably mounted on the jack shaft 10 to mesh with the gears 14 and 15, respectively. A double jawed clutch 18 is splined to the jack shaft between the gears 16 and 1'7v and adapted to be shifted to secure either of the driven gears 16 and 17 to the jack shaft and thus secure variable speed therefor, or to a neutral position, as shown in Fig. I. The means for shifting the clutch 18 is not shown, as suitable means are well known.

In the embodiment illustrated the jack driving shaft directly to the driven; shaft or the gear 21 to the drivenshaft.

The jack shaft is provided with a driving reverse gear 24, while the driven shaft is provided with a driven reverse gear 25, the driving reverse gear being keyed to the jack shaft, while the driven reverse gear is rotatably mounted upon the driven shaft.

A double jawed clutch 26 is splined to the driven shaft between the variable speed driven gear 22 and the reverse driven gear 25 and 1s adapted to be adjusted to connect either of these gears to the driven shaft. The gears 24 and 25 are connected by the idler 27,-see Figs. IIand III, thereby securing the reverse of the driven shaft when the clutch 26 is engaged with the gear 25. The operating means for the clutches 23 and 26 are not illustrated, as they form no part of this invention and suitable means are well known in the art.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is especially designed by me for use on four wheel driven motor trucks, and, to facilitate connection to the front'and rear propeller shafts, I- provide a transmission shaft 28, which is disposed in the extension 5 of the casing with its ends projecting therefrom. The casing is provlded with bearings 29 and 30 for this shaft, the bearing 30 being removable for convenience in assembling. The projecting ends 31 of the shaft 28 are each adapted for connection to the propeller or other power delivery shafts.

The shaft 28 is connected to the driven shaft 12 by means of the gear 32 on the driven shaft 12, the gear 33 on the shaft 28 and an intermediate connecting gear 34,-see Fig. III. Other connectin means might be employed, such as sproc et wheels and chain, or the power may be delivered directly from the driven shaft or other suitable transfer connections made thereto.

In the embodiment illustrated I provide ,five' speeds forward and two reverse, there being two speed connections for the driving shaft to the jack shaft and two speed connections for the jack shaft to the driven shaft and means for connecting the driven shaft directly to the jack shaft. The reverse is through the reversing gears 24 and 25, as described.

My improved variable speed gearing is especially designed by me for embodiment in trucks where a number of variations in speed are desirable to accommodate various -road and load conditions, but 1s desirable provements in a practical embodiment. I

believe the disclosure made will enable those skilled in-the art to which this invention relates to embody or adapt the same as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination of a casing, a driving shaft, a bearing for-the inner end of said driving shaft, a pair of driving gears on said driving shaft disposed one at each side of said bearing, a jack shaft disposed parallel with said driving shaft, a pair of driven gears rotatably mounted on said jack shaft to mesh with said driving gears of said gears thereof and the end of said driving shaft and adapted to connect said driving shaft or such gear to said driven shaft, a driving reverse gear on said jack shaft, a driven reverse gear on said driven shaft, a clutch disposed between said driven reverse gear and the other variable speed to connect either to said driven shaft, and driving connections for said reverse gears.

2. The combination of a casing provided with a lobe-like extension at one side, a driving shaft, a driven shaft disposed in alinement with said driving shaft, driving gears fixed to said driving shaft, a jack shaft, driven gears rotatably mounted on said jack shaft, and meshing with said gears on said driving shaft, clutch means whereby said driven gears may be connected to said jack shaft to secure variable speeds therefor, variable speed driving gears on said jack shaft and coacting driven gears on said driven shaft, reverse driving and driven gears on said jack shaft and driven shaft, a reverse idler connecting said reverse gears, clutch means for connecting said variable speed and reverse driven gears to said driven shaft or connecting said driven shaft directly to said driving shaft, a transmission shaft adapted to receive driving connections at each end disposed through said casing extension to project at each end, and a train of gears connecting said transmission and driven shafts and comprising gears on said shafts and an intermediate coacting gear.

3. The combination of a casing provided with a lobe-like extension at one side, a driving shaft, a driven shaft disposed in alinement With said driving shaft, driving gears fixed to said driving shaft, a jack shaft, driven gears rotatably mounted on said jack I driven gear of said drivenshaft and adapted each end disposed through said casing shaft and meshing with said gears on said driving shaft, clutch means whereby said driven gears may be connected to said jack shaft to secure variable speeds therefor, variable speed driving gears on said jack shaft and coacting driven gears on said driven shaft, reverse driving and driven gears on said jack shaft and driven shaft, a reverse idler connecting said reverse gears, clutch means for connecting said variable speed and reverse driven gears to said driven shaft or connecting said driven shaft directly to said driving shaft, a transmission shaft disposed in said casing extension, and a train of gears connecting said transmission and driven shafts and comprising gears on said shafts and an intermediate, coacting gear.

4. The combination of a driving-shaft, a driven shaft disposed in alinement with said driving shaft, driving gears fixed to said driving shaft, a jack shaft, driven gears rotatably mounted on said jack shaft and meshing with said gears on said driving shaft, clutch means whereby said driven gears may be connected to said jack shaft to secure variable speeds therefor, variable speed driving gears on said jack shaft and coacting driven gears on said driven shaft,

reverse driving and driven gears on said jack shaft and driven shaft, a reverse idler connecting said reverse gears, clutch means for connecting said variable speed and reverse driven gears to said driven shaft or connecting said driven shaft directly to said driving shaft.

5. The combination of a casing provided with a lobe-like extension at one side, a driving shaft, a.driven shaft disposed in alinement with said driving shaft, driving gears fixed to said driving shaft, a jack shaft, driven gears rotatably mounted on said jack shaft and meshing with said gears on said driving shaft, means whereby said driven gears may be connected to said jack shaft to secure variable speeds therefor; variable speed driving gears on said jack shaft and .coacting driven gears on said driven shaft, means for connecting said variable speed driven gears to said driven shaft or connecting-said drlven'shaft directly to said driving shaft, a transmlssion shaft adapted to receive driving connections at extension to project at each end, and driving connections for said transmission and driven shafts.

6. The combination of a casing provided with a lobe-like extension at one side, a driving shaft, a driven shaft disposed in aline: ment with said driving shaft, driving gears fixed to said driving shaft, a jack shaft, driven gears rotatably mounted on said jack shaft and meshing with said gears on said driving shaft, means whereby said driven sa1d casing extension, and driving connections for said transmission and driven shafts.

7 The combination of a driving shaft, a driven shaft disposed in alinement with said driving shaft, driving gears fixed to said driving shaft, a jack shaft, driven gears rotatably mounted on said jack shaft and meshing with said gears on said driving shaft, means whereby said driven gears may be connected to said jack shaft to secure variable speeds therefor, variable speed driving gears on said jack shaft and coacting drlven gears on said driven shaft, means for connecting said variable speed driven gears to said driven shaft or connecting said driven shaft directly to said driving shaft.

8. The combination of a casing provided with a lobe-like extension at one side, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a jack shaft, coacting variable speed driving and driven gears on said driving and ack shafts, means for controlling said gears to secure variable speeds for said jack shaft, coacting variable speed driving and driven gears on said jack and driven shafts, reverse driving and driven gears on said jack and driven shafts, a reverse idler connecting said reverse gears, means for controlling said gears to secure variable speeds for said driven shaft and to reverse the same, a transmission shaft adapted to receive driving connections at each end disposed through said casing extension to project at each end, and driving connections for said driven and transmission shaft.

9. The combination of a casing provided with a lobe-like extension at one side, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a jack shaft, 00- acting variable speed driving and driven gears on said driving and jack shafts, coacting variable speed driving and driven gears on said jack and driven shafts, reverse driving and driven gears on said jack and driven shafts, a reverse idler connecting said reverse gears, means for controlling said gears to secure variable speeds for said driven shaft and to reverse the same, a transmission shaft disposed in said casing extension, and driving connections for said driven and transmission shaft.

10. The combination of a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a jack shaft, coacting variable speed driving and driven gears on said driving and jack shafts, means for controlling shafts, reverse driving and driven gears on said jack and driven shafts? a reverse idlerconnecting said reverse gears, means for controlling said gears to secure variable speeds for said driven shaft and to reverse the same.

11. The combination of a casing provided with a lobe-like extension at one side, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a jack shaft, coacting variable speed driving and driven gears on said driving and jack shafts, means for controlling said gears to secure variable speeds for said jack shaft, coacting variable speed driving and driven gears on said jack and driven shafts, means for controlling said gears to secure variable speeds for said driven shaft, a transmission shaft adapted to receive driving connections at each end disposed through said casing extension to project at each end, and driving connections for said driven and transmission shaft.

12. The combination of a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a ck shaft, coacting variable speed driving and driven gears on said driving and jack shafts, means for controlling said gears to secure variable speeds for said jack shaft, coacting variable speed driving and driven gears on said jack and driven shafts, means for controlling said gears to secure variable speeds for said driven shaft.

13. The combination of a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a jack shaft, coacting variable speed driving and driven gears on said driving and jack shafts, meansfor controlling said gears to secure variable speeds for said jack shaft, coacting variable speed driving and driven gears on said jack and driven shafts, reverse driving connections for said jack and driven shafts, and means for controlling said gears to secure variable speeds for said driven shaft and to reverse the same.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE J. THOMAS. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

LEE, G. W. HEWITT. 

